Greens would form coalition with 'racist' Winston Peters

Green Party Co-Leader Metiria Turei says her party could form a coalition with NZ First, despite concerns surrounding leader Winston Peters' views on immigration.

Ms Turei says while "Winston Peters' racism is always a difficulty", the Greens can, and already do, work with him and his party.

"So we have worked with them and we will continue to do so where we can, but absolutely the racism of Winston Peters, particularly around immigration is a real concern, it always has been," says Ms Turei.

This comes on the weekend of the Greens AGM in Christchurch - a time when the party assesses its policy and political direction.

The co-leader says the party remains committed to forming a progressive government, but is realistic about working within a coalition.

"So, we will be working as best as we can with whoever is in that progressive government, and there will be areas where we have very serious disagreement with what other political parties in that government are wanting to do, and we have to find ways of working through those and develop those relationships now so we can work through those.

That is the difficulty with any coalition government that exists, including whether it's on the left or right of the spectrum."

Nurses in schools
Earlier, Ms Turei announced on TVNZ's Q+A that the Green Party plans to put a nurse in to every decile one to three primary and intermediate at cost of $30 million a year.

“It’s around 280 nurses to cover a bit over 600 schools and around 112,000 children. We already have services in secondary schools – school-based health services in secondary schools – and we have the free before-school checks for little kids, but there is a gap in primary and intermediate schools, and we think that gap needs to be filled.”

Metiria Turei also said the Greens support a universal child allowance, a proposal ruled out on the programme by Social Development Minister Paula Bennett.

“We know at heart the causes of poverty are income-based. That’s why we say there should be a universal child allowance, as the Children’s Commissioner has recommended, a living wage, an improved benefit so that families have a decent amount to survive on.”

On the party’s relationship with Labour, Metiria Turei said “I think it’s really important that they understand where we’re going with our policy.”

She said that the Greens are not damaging Labour’s brand.

“Oh, absolutely not, and I think Labour need to take responsibility for their own brand, as the Green Party does. So we know that we are a very strong and effective third political force in this country. We are growing in strength every day...

“So we’re in a great space at the moment. That’s why we’re putting out these solutions – because we need New Zealanders to really understand where the Greens will take any government we’re part of in the future.”

Metiria Turei conceded that Greens have held National to account at this weekend’s party conference.

“Oh, we’re going to tell the truth about what they’re doing. You know, if you look at their history of legislation over the last little while with the Sky City deal, with the carers legislation, with what they’ve done in Christchurch – and we are here today with our AGM. You know, they have removed democratic rights. They are making it much more difficult for New Zealanders to have a say.”

Metiria Turei refused to be drawn on which portfolio she would like if elected next year.

To describe the Greens as having a "craven lust for power" is like describing Winston Peters as a representative for youth. Both of these statements are wrong. Besides, is it not the case that by definition all political parties seek power in order to have an influence on decision making?

I'm not a fan of Peters, however I don't believe he's racist, he like me actually likes equality based on citizenship not skin colour. Most Kiwis have had enough of racism that successive governments promote got their own political benefit.

I meet many immigrants who have come from hostil countries having depression, language and social issues living in NZ. They come because they are sick of war, and its NZ that has to clean up others pathological effects. NZ have own issues to sort out. Greens are taking the best option to stay in power.

What do you mean by "lunatic policies and programmes"? Greens policy is based on sound reasoning and is invariably supported by academics, NGOs, business, etc. And you know full well that it is untrue to say that the Greens " will do anything to get cabinet posts this time."

Greens' policy is based on the theory money grows on Government trees and if there is not enough you just print more. It is also based on the delusion that central government knows better than you what is good for you and the environment and can make you comply. It also believes that business and free enterprise is evil and must only be tolerated to the extent tax can be extorted from it - or until it can be nationalised.

Apart from that it may be entirely sane and rational and supported by the evidence as you claim - although I suspect not.

You are being disingenuous or have been swayed by the media. Green Party policy is developed by the membership and it follows the four core green principles. Have you been to http://www.greens.org.nz/ or http://www.greens.org.nz/policy ? The Green Party has about 500 pages of ratified policy. Have you read all of it?

To even imagine that the future of NZs well being could be placed in the hands of electorally unelected MPs in the mold of Norman or Turei,beggars belief.No chance of an armed attack on NZs democracy,when we have MMP.The" green taleban" in NZ have an advantage on their Afghanistan counterparts.

No, I support your party which used to be called Labour.Sadly you are now known as green/labour,both irrevelant in the lower case.With your ignorant comment back to me .Sounds like the green taleban of NZ have got you bluffed.You have been warned about the consequences of such a coalition of the damned Green Taleban NZ style.

They have the religion - they are right and everybody else is wrong. Once in power they will do whatever they want, whether it has been disclosed to the electorte or not. Because they know best - they did a paper on it at varsity. Thats why they sometimes get called the Green Taliban.

Unbelievable arrogance to generally slander candidates as tinpot and that some (unnamed) electorates are electoral backwaters. Not the sort of party line that would win friends and influence people in NZ's back blocks.

Mr, you, as usual as a Taleban greenie, are confused.The electorate MPs who are the winners are put there by the voters. In your world of confusion your party employs the retreads. I rest my case.FPP returns genuine MPs,whatever colour or creed. When your counterfeit plastic Taleban party gets an electorate you can lift your big mouth above the parapet.

Ad hominem attacks such as "Taleban greenie" indicate that I have won the argument! You should attack the message not the messenger. And so you really like FPP? A dodgy electoral system that lets a minority dictate to the majority?

Anything that comes out of Metiria Turei's mouth usually include the words 'income-based'. That includes her proposal to levy (read: tax) everyone in the country based on income should a nasty earthquake strikes in the future.

She isn't going to wait for an earthquake before she starts taxing you. It will happen almost immediately they are voted in. Personal tax rates up. Check. Company tax rates up. Check. ETS tax rates up and scope widened to include all sectors. Check.

Are we going to have a government where none of the MPs can win an electorate and many we have not heard off. Whacky people with wacky ideas. In 12 months we would be worse off than Cyprus , Greece or Spain. The Greens can manage your affairs better than you can,!!!

Anyone enthusiastic about a Labour/Greens Government should have a talk to Tasmanians. They have decimated their hardwood timber industry with the loss of 5000-odd jobs, etc.
Retail has been hit as has the economy in general and Tasmanians are waiting for the day in 2014 when the L/G state government will be sent into oblivion.
.

Poor comparison. Our forestry is all plantation based, the Aussies have a different political system, our economy is more diverse (and actually heavily reliant on a "clean green" image) etc. Also, your figure of 5000 lost jobs is seriously inflated.

Well, the Greens policies are similar to those in the countries you listed. But we are "special" - the same thing wouldn't happen to us. And even if it did, we can call on our partner states in the EU to bail us out. Oh. Wait...

I still can't understand why we need a former Australian communist (Russel Norman) to run the Greens, one of our main political parties. What is wrong with our own home-bred communists? I can see a good space for a bit of enlightened racism here.

The greens and the maori party both have co-leaders, interesting. Is this to wrought more money from the taxpayers, I assume the leader of the party gets more money than an MP? While both parties could be referred to as NUTTER fringe groups.